Tensionable connection for knockdown articles



D. H. GASTON 2,729,355

TENSIONABLE CONNECTION FOR KNOCKDOWN ARTICLES Jan. 3, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1953 w m m w.

Donald [2. Gaston ATTUR'NEY Jan. 3, 1956 D. H. GASTON 2,729,355

TENSIONABLE CONNECTION FOR KNOCKDOWN ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Dolazlci HGCZSZOTKA BY m ATTU/V/VEY.

United States Patent" O TENSIONABLE CONNECTION FOR KNOCKDOWN ARTICLESDonald H. Gaston, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to the United States ofAmerica as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application June 17,1953, Serial No. 362,335 13 Claims. (Cl. 217-65) My invention relates toknockdown buildings, containers, articles of furniture or the like, andmore particularly to tensionable means for connecting together theseveral parts of the article; The device according to the invention isparticularly applicable to connections wherein a number of separateelements converge to provide a corner of the assembled article.

In all knockdown articles, particularly articles subject to roughhandling, as furniture or shipping containers, the major problem hasbeen to provide a tight connection which will stay tight at all times,will withstand rough handling, yet can be readily actuated by commonlyavailable tools to assemble or disassemble the article. This problem hasbeen met in the past in a variety of ways, as by the use of screws,bolts, separable fasteners, interlocking joints and otherwise withoutentire satisfaction. For instance, too many screws are required forsecurity, they tend to get lost when the container is knocked down andrepeated use wears the threads of the screw sockets whereby they tend tobecome loose in use. Bolts normally must be too long whereby they addtoo much to the weight of the article and also tend to get lost when thecontainer is knocked down. Other forms of separable fasteners orinterlocking joints seldom, if ever, are strong enough to stand roughhandling sufficiently well to avoid separation in use.

In addition, all known prior connections have the disadvantage that theycan connect together only two elements at a time and can tension theconnected elements only in a single straight linelongitudinally of theconnection in the instance of screws, bolts or the like.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to providea novel and improved tensionable connection for knockdown articles whichovercome the objectionable features of the prior art connections andwhich is capable also of connecting together three or more elements witha single connection and at the same time drawing all of the connectedelements together in converging directions under equal tension.

A further object is to provide such a connection which includes flexiblemeans connecting a plurality of elements together and novel means fortensioning said flexible means.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of theinvention, the structure of the several elements thereof, combinationsand sub-combinations of such elements and/or in the particular method ofmaking or securing the connection, all of which will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing inconnection with the following specification wherein the invention isshown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knockdown building utilizing theinvention;

Figure 2 is a like view of a shipping container to which the inventionis applicable;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view of one corner ofFigure 1 apart from the connection proper;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the same corner of Figure1, the connection being shown apart from the structure;

Figure 5 is an enlarged exploded view of the connector apart from thearticle;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary horizontal sectional view throughan upper corner of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of the line 77 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken substantiallyon the plane of the line 88 of Figure 6; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one corner ofFig. 2 showing a modified form of connection applied thereto.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference charactersare applied to like parts in all views, and referring at first to Figurel, 10 designates generally a portable building to which the inventionhas been applied. The building 10 may comprise a number of roof panels11 which are connected to wall panels 12 by horizontal pilasters 13.Vertical pilasters 14 connect the walls together. Additional horizontalpilasters 13 connect the walls to floor panels (not shown). A door 15may be formed in one or more walls. It should be noted that thehorizontal and vertical pilasters 13 and 14 are equal in length to thewalls connected thereby so the pilaster end surfaces are exposed toprovide recessed corners 16.

Figure 2 shows a shipping container 17 wherein pilasters are omitted andthe walls 13 thereof are so proportional and interfitted that end edgefaces of each wall are exposed to provide recessed corners 19corresponding to the like corners 16 of the building 16. The inventionto be described hereinafter is particularly well adapted for applicationto containers or buildings of this type having intersecting fiat wallsor panels but is obviously applicable also to knockdown furniture andother structures. For simplicity, the connection of the invention hasnot been shown applied to the container 17 but it is understood that itis applied in the same manner as to the building 10.

Referring now to Figures 3-8 inclusive, it will be noted that the panelsand pilasters are formed with suitable interengaging means such as thetongue and groove arrangement shown wherein the panels 11 and 12 areformed with edge tongues 20 and the pilasters 13 and 14 are formed withgrooves 21 which receive the tongues 20 therein when the parts arefitted together. It is apparent also that if the pilaster ends whichform each recessed corner can be firmly connected together, the walls 11and 12 will be held rigidly together. In like manner, if a similarconnection is achieved between the exposed end edges of the walls 18 ofthe container 17 of Figure 2, the walls 18 will be rigidly connected.Thus, it is to be understood that the connection hereinafter describedis equally applicable to the building 19, the container 17 and otherknockdown articles (not shown) even though a specific showing of theconnection has been restricted to the building of Figure 1.

To achieve the connection of the invention, it is first necessary toapply suitable anchors to the ends of the pilasters 13 and 14. In theembodiment illustrated, such anchors comprise U-bolts 22 the legs ofwhich slide in holes 23 formed in the ends of the pilasters.Countersinks 24 are formed in the ends of the pilasters around the holes23 so that the bights of the U-bolts 22 are partially countersunk in theends of the pilasters. The U-bolts 22 are secured in the holes 23 bykeys 25, Figures and 7, which seat in keyways 26 formed in the legs ofthe U-bolts. Access to the keyways 26 is achieved by lateral holes 27formed in the pilasters so as to intersect the holes 23. Obviously,other forms of anchors, such as eye-bolts, eye-screws, staples and thelike will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, thestructure disclosed is considered superior in that the danger of. theanchor pulling out is eliminated (staples and eyescrews) while it isunnecessary to apply a nut to the free ends as in the case of aneye-bolt.

A base member 28 is seated on the free end of each vertical pilaster 14within each recessed corner 16. As each base member 28 is identical, itwill suffice to describe but a single one of them. However, it should beborne in mind that those at the lower corners will be upside down ascompared to those more readily seen in the drawing. As will be apparent,it is not necessary to attach the base members 28 to the ends of thepilasters 14 but they can be attached if desired by any suitableattaching means as screws, not shown.

Each base member 28 comprises a floor 29 which is preferably triangularin shape and is disposed with its apex toward the interior of itsrecessed corner 16. The floor 29 is formed with a raised, hollow boss 30which is located to overlie the countersink 24 and the bight of theU-bolt 22 therein. The upper surface of each boss 30 is formed with ahole 31 therethrough for the free passage of the shank 32 of a suitabledrawbolt such as the J-bolt 33. The hook 34 of the J-bolt 33 is hookedunder the bight of the U-bolt 22 whereby to readily detachably connectthe base 28 with the associated U-bolt 22.

Walls 35 which are integral with the floor 29 arise from the rearwardlyconverging sides of the floor and have upper edges formed with alignednotches 36, the purpose of which will be apparent hereinafter. The upperrear portions of the walls 35 are cut away from the main body as at 37and are bent laterally to provide a pair of spaced and parallel ears 38.The ears 38 are formed with aligned holes 39 for the reception thereinof a pivot pin 40. The upper edges of the ears 38 are formed withaligned notches 41 for a purpose to be apparent.

A drawbar such as the rocker arm 42 is pivoted on the pin 40 whichpasses through aligned holes 43 in rear portions of depending sideflanges 44 of the rocker arm. The forward part of the web 45 of therocker arm 42 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 46 throughwhich extends the shank 32 of the J-bolt 33. A nut 47 on the threadedupper end of the shank of the J-bolt 33 connects the latter to therocker arm 42. The lower edges of the flanges 44 of the rocker arm areformed with aligned and downwardly directed notches 48 which aredisposed forwardly of the pivot pin holes 43.

Any suitable flexible connector such as the cable 49 is used to connectthe pilasters 13 and 14 together. Such cables preferably have suitableenlargements such as the ball-swaged cable terminals 50 attached totheir free ends. In operation, the shanks 51 of the terminals 50 seat inthe notches 41 of the ears 38 after being threaded through the bights ofthe horizontally disposed U-bolts 22. The bight 52 of the cable 49 islooped under the rocker arm 42 and engaged by the notches 48 thereof.Such bight 52 is also led through the notches 36 in the upper edges ofthe walls 35 of the base member.

If desired and as shown, the ears 38 may be reinforced against spreadingstrains by a U-shaped retainer member 53 having a web 54 spanning thespace between the ears and flanges 55 overlying the outer surfaces ofthe ears and secured thereto in any suitable manner, not shown, as bywelding or by a tight friction fit. The upper edges of the flanges 55are formed with aligned notches 56 which, of course, are in alignmentwith the notches 41 of the ears.

In the operation of the device, the cable 49 is first applied to thebights of the horizontal U-bolts 22 either before or after the latterare seated in holes 23. The shanks 51 of the terminals 50 are now seatedin the notches 56 and 41 to anchor the free ends of the cable 49. Thenwith the nut 47 removed from the shank 32 of the J-bolt 33, the rockerarm 42 may be raised sufliciently to permit the bight 52 of the cable tobe looped thereover and seated in the notches 48 thereof. Then therocker arm 42 is again dropped down while opposite side portions of thebight 52 are guided into the notches 36 of the side walls 35. The nut 47is now re-engaged with the J-bolt 33. The loose connection thusestablished between the pilasters 13 and 14 is tensioned by tighteningthe nut 47 which rocks the forward portion of the rocker arm 42downwardly taking with it the bight 52 of the cable. This actiongradually tightens the connection in a uniform manner by exerting equaltension on all three pilasters in longitudinal and inwardly convergingdirec-' tions. It should be noted that the longitudinally outwardtension thus exerted on the U-bolts 22, pulls the keys 25 into firmfrictional engagement with the peripheries of the lateral holes 27whereby withdrawal of the keys is prevented.

In like manner, it is obvious that the exposed end edges of the walls 18of container 17 (Fig. 2) may be formed to mount the same sort oftensioning device in the recessed corners 19. Also, the tensioning meansis applicable to other knockdown articles in similar manner.

While the rockable tensioning means shown is considered particularlysuitable in that it achieves maximum tensioning in a minimum of space,it should be recognized that other tensioning means may be used.

For instance, in smaller containers or the like (Figure 9) the connectormight be a flexible wire 60 connecting eyescrews 61 in the exposed endedges of the walls 18 of the container 17. The wire 60 may be tensionedby twisting the ends of the wire together as at 62 in Fig. 9. Inrelatively large containers or buildings where recessed corners ofsubstantial size are formed, the connector could be a flexible memberhaving its ends connected together by a turn buckle or the like.

Consequently, while I have shown and described what are now thought tobe preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood thatthe same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, Ido not limit myself to the precise structures shown and describedhereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A knockdown container or the like, comprising a plurality of wallsconnected together to form a hollow container, said walls each having aplurality of edge surfaces, a plurality of pilasters each having a pairof angularly disposed side surfaces engaging correspondingly disposededge surfaces of a pair of walls, said engaging side and edge surfacesof said pilasters and walls respectively being formed with interfittedcomplementary interfitting meanswhereby each pilaster releasably securesa pair of angularly disposed walls together, the length of saidpilasters being the same-length as the wall edge surfaces with whichthey are engaged and forming recesses at each corner of said container,said recesses each being exposed and defined by-the adjacent ends of atrio of pilasters, a tensionable connector in each recess, meansconnecting each connector to said adjacent ends of the associated trioof pilasters, and a single tensioning means in each recess tensioningthe connector therein and imparting substantially equal tension to thetrio of pilasters and assomew ciated walls in directions drawing saidpilasters and walls together in container-forming, rigidly assembledrelation.

2. A knockdown container or the like, comprising a plurality of wallsconnected together to form a hollow container, said walls each having aplurality of edge surfaces, a plurality of pilasters each having a pairof angularly disposed side surfaces engaging correspondingly disposededge surfaces of a pair of walls, said engaging side and edge surfacesof said pilasters and walls respectively being formed with interfittedcomplementary interfitting means whereby each pilaster releasablysecures a pair of angularly disposed walls together, said containerbeing formed with recesses at each corner thereof, said recesses eachbeing at least partially defined by the adjacent ends of a trio ofpilasters, a flexible connector in each recess, means connecting eachconnector to said adjacent ends of the associated trio of pilasters, andmeans tensioning each connector and imparting substantially equaltension to the trio of pilasters and associated walls in directionsdrawing said pilasters and walls together in container-forming, rigidlyassembled relation.

3. A knockdown container or the like, comprising a plurality of wallsconnected together to form a hollow container, said walls each having aplurality of edge surfaces, a plurality of pilasters each having a pairof angularly disposed side surfaces engaging correspondingly disposededge surfaces of a pair of walls, said engaging side and edge surfacesof said pilasters and walls respectively being formed with interfittedcomplementary interfitting means whereby each pilaster releasablysecures a pair of angularly disposed Walls together, said containerbeing formed with recesses at each corner thereof, said recesses eachbeing at least partially defined by the adjacent ends of a trio ofpilasters, a connector in each recess, means connecting each connectorto said adjacent ends of the associated trio of pilasters, eachconnector including a flexible member, and means tensioning eachflexible member and imparting substantially equal tension to the trio ofpilasters and associated walls in directions drawing said pilasters andwalls together in container-forming, rigidly assembled relation.

4. A knockdown container or the like, comprising a plurality'of wallsconnected together to form a hollow container, said walls each having aplurality of edge surfaces, a plurality of pilasters each having a pairof angularly disposed side surfaces engaging correspondingly disposededge surfaces of a pair of walls, said engaging side and edge surfacesof said pilasters and walls respectively being formed with interfittedcomplementary interfitting means whereby each pilaster releasablysecures a pair of angularly disposed walls together, said containerbeing formed with recesses at each corner thereof, said recesses eachbeing .at least partially defined by the adjacent ends of a trio ofpilasters, an anchor fixed to each end of each pilaster, a base seatedin each recess on one end of a pilaster, a rocker arm rockably mountedon said base, a drawbolt slidable through said rocker arm, said bolthaving a head at one end in drawing engagement with the anchor of saidpilaster which seats said base, a flexible draw member connecting saidrocker arm with said anchors of the remaining pilasters of the trio, anut on said drawbolt, said nut bearing on said rocker arm so as to rockthe same in one direction upon tightening of said nut, tightening ofsaid nut being operative to tension said flexible member andsimultaneously impart axial tension to said drawbolt whereby eachpilaster of the trio is tensioned substantially equally, and saidconnectors and pilasters thereby securing said walls together in rigidcontainer-forming relation.

5. The structure of claim 3, wherein said means for tensioning saidflexible member includes screw threaded means.

6. A multi-way tensioning means, comprising a base, a drawbar, pivotmeans rockably mounting said drawbar on said base, an elongated flexiblemember having two ends anchored to said base above said drawbar toprovide a loop, means securing a medial portion of said loop to saiddrawbar= forwardly of said pivot means for movement with said drawbar, avertical drawbolt freely slidable in said base and drawbar forwardly ofsaid pivot means, said bolt having a head located below said base andadapted to be secured to a first member to be tensioned, a nut threadedon said bolt above said drawbar to provide means for rocking said bardownwardly, lateral portions of said loop on opposite sides of saiddrawbar being connected to at least second and third members to betensioned, and tightening of said nut being operative to rock saiddrawbar downwardly and tension said flexible member and drawbolt andthereby tension said first, second and third members to be tensionedsimultaneously and substantially equally.

7. In a knockdown article including a plurality of elements readilydetachable connected together at their ends in intersecting relation soas to provide a recessed corner defined by the extreme end edge surfacesof three elements; the improvement comprising flexible means in saidrecessed corner, means anchoring said flexible means to said end edgesurfaces of said elements and connecting said elements together, andtensioning means in said recessed corner, and said tensioning meansbeing operatively connected to said flexible means so as to tension thesame and draw said elements into firm engagement with each other. a

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said tensioning means includesscrew threaded operating means.

9. The structure of claim 7, wherein said tensioning means includesrockable means operatively engaging said flexible means, and means forrocking said rockable means in a direction to tension said flexiblemeans.

10. The structure of claim 9, wherein said last-named means comprisesscrew threaded elements.

11. In a knockdown article including at least three elements havingadjacent ends connected together in intersecting relation so as toprovide a corner having an exposed recess defined by the end edgesurfaces of said elements; the improvement comprising an anchor fixed toeach recess-defining end edge surface of said elements, a base seated onsaid end edge surface of one element, a rocker arm rockably mounted onsaid base, a drawbolt slidable through said rocker arm, means connectingsaid bolt to said anchor of said end edge surface seating said base, aflexible member connecting said rocker arm with said anchors of theother two end edge surfaces, a nut on said drawbolt, said out bearing onsaid rocker arm so as to rock the same upon tightening of said nut in adirection to tension said flexible member and simultaneously impartequal tension on all three elements in converging directions.

12. In a knockdown article including at least three elements havingadjacent ends connected together in intersecting relation so as toprovide a corner having an exposed recess defined by the end edgesurfaces of said elements; the improvement comprising an anchor fixed toeach recess-defining end edge surface of said elements, a base seated onsaid end edge surface of one element, a rocker arm rockably mounted onsaid base, connecting means connecting said rocker arm to said anchor ofsaid end edge surface seating said base, a flexible member connectingsaid rocker arm with said anchors of the other two end edge surfaces,and said connecting means including means for rocking said rocker arm ina direction to tension said flexible member and simultaneously impartequal tension on all three elements in converging directions.

13. In a knockdown article including at least three elements havingadjacent ends connected together in inter: secting relation so as toprovide a corner having an exposed recess defined by the end edgesurfaces of said elements; the improvement comprising an anchor fixed toeach recess-defining end edge surface of said elements, a

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS395,015 Tegtimeyer Dec. 25, 1888 '8 Sullivan Jan. 25, Hester June 24,Friedel June 4,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 23, Great Britain Apr. 14, GermanyAug. 20,

